Hello!

I pray you had a wonderful weekend.

Do you understand the biblical doctrine of Hell?  Yesterday, I wrote a research paper called, "Understanding 'Hell'" and it explains the four, New Testament places of the afterlife for sinners.  It is quite interesting and revealing, yet brief.  Link: http://www.jcsm.org/biblelessons/UnderstandingHell.htm.

Please take a minute and visit our "International Church Directory."  We've created a page for your favorite church and/or ministry.  Here is the link: http://intlchurchdir.jcsm.org.

Are you looking for a good book?  Have you read a great book and want to tell others about it?  JCSM has a page called, "Recommend A Book" and you can give and read book reviews!  Link: http://bookreviews.jcsm.org.

The JCSM Study Center has a new addition.  "Origen: Contra Celsus" has been added!  This 2nd/3rd century, "church father" has left us with some awesome, historical literature.  Go to http://study.jcsm.org to see how he defended the faith against the philosopher named Celsus.

The JCSM Forum is opening a new section for atheists.  This area will be for unbelievers to come and chat.  Right now, we only have a "debate/discussion" area for them, so we are creating a "less serious" environment for atheists to come and post, visit JCSM, etc.

Please vote for the name of this new section!  Right now, there is a tie between "Atheists Anonymous" and "Seeker Central."  Link: http://forum.jcsm.org/jcsmforum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=1093.

My wife knows a girl who is in the hospital.  She is struggling with suicidal thoughts and tendencies.  Please pray that she recovers and trusts Jesus Christ for her healing.

I hope and pray you seek God and experience His blessings this week.  Put Him first and everything else will fall into place.

Would you prayerfully consider supporting JCSM with $5 per month?  If God leads you to take this step of faith and bless this ministry, PayPal will process a donation subscription for you.  It will only take a minute and you can join us in this dynamic ministry that constantly reaches people all over the world.  Here is the link for $5 donations: Click here!

This is your ministry, so please feel free to link to JCSM and forward these devotions to your friends and family. On the JCSM website, there are over 5000 links (pictures, forums, midis, Bible lessons, humor, proverbial stories, links, devotions, poetry, prayer journals and much more!) and it has registered over 127,000 visits!

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Would you like to support God’s work on the web? If this ministry has touched you in a special way, please pray and consider sending a gift to JCSM. You can join us in our vision to reach people on the web with the good news! Either email me for more information or simply go here: http://vision.jcsm.org.

Visit The JCSM Study Center!  We have over 400mb of resources like English and foreign Bibles, maps, commentaries, Greek and Hebrew dictionaries and concordances and much more!  Plus, it's all free.  Link: http://study.jcsm.org.

Welcome to the new readers of this message! Here are the Devotions, A Moment of Introspection, JCSM's Challenge, the Greek Bible Word of the Week, a faith-builder from "The Skeptic's Annotated Bible: Corrected and Explained" and the Quotes of the Week. Have a fantastic week and God bless you!

Love in Christ,

Jason J. Gastrich

ICQ#: 20731140

The Weekly Devotional Message

Day 1: "Seek His Wisdom"

James 3:13-18  "Who is wise and understanding among you?  Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom.  But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth.  This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic.  For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there.  But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy.  Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace."

Jeremiah 51:15  "He has made the earth by His power; He has established the world by His wisdom, And stretched out the heaven by His understanding."

1 Corinthians 1:20b  "Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?"

1 Corinthians 3:19  "For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God.  For it is written, 'He catches the wise in their own craftiness'; and again, 'The LORD knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile.'"

Insight: God's wisdom is better than human wisdom.  His thoughts are higher than our thoughts and His ways are higher than our ways.  Seek God's wisdom and be successful.  Remember, Solomon asked for wisdom and received much more.

Prayer: "Thank you for loving us, Lord.  Thank you for wanting to bless us with what we need.  Give us great wisdom.  Help us use our resources for your glory.  Help us to make wise decisions, too.  Thank you for having patience with us.  Forgive us for making wrong decisions and forgive us for making mistakes because we didn't consult You, first.  Help us to do what is right and obey You.  Thank you for making our lives better and more successful.  In Jesus' name, Amen."

Day 2: "The Lord is My Rock"

2 Samuel 22:32, 33, 47  "For who is God, except the LORD?  And who is a rock, except our God?  God is my strength and power, and He makes my way perfect.  The LORD lives!  Blessed be my Rock!  Let God be exalted, The Rock of my salvation!"

Psalm 18:2  "The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold."

Psalm 31:3  "For You are my rock and my fortress; therefore, for Your name’s sake, lead me and guide me."

Psalm 94:22  "But the LORD has been my defense, and my God the rock of my refuge."

Isaiah 26:4  "Trust in the LORD forever, For in YAH, the LORD, is the Rock of Ages."

Insight: When your life seems to be sinking or floating, remember that your God is the immovable Rock.  He is our foundation and our refuge.  Let the Rock of our Salvation be your peace.

Prayer: "Praise You for being our Rock!  Remind us that You are strong and awesome.  Thank you for being a safe refuge.  Help us to run to You.  Lift us up and make us strong, Lord.  Let us build on the foundation that is You.  Thank you for being worthy of our time and devotion.  Give us peace and remove our worries and fears.  Give us courage and boldness.  Thank you for being our mighty fortress!  In Jesus' name, Amen."

Day 3: "A Good Reputation"

Proverbs 22:1  "A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, loving favor rather than silver and gold."

Proverbs 27:2  "Let another man praise you, and not your own mouth; a stranger, and not your own lips."

Proverbs 28:9, 10  "Debate your case with your neighbor, and do not disclose the secret to another; lest he who hears it expose your shame, and your reputation be ruined."

Ecclesiastes 7:1  "A good name is better than precious ointment, and the day of death than the day of one’s birth."

Ephesians 4:1-3  "I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace."

Insight: Integrity and a good reputation is earned over time.  Don't worry about popularity.  Pursue godliness and you'll gain a good reputation.

Prayer: "Thank you for letting even unknown people gain a good reputation.  Help us to understand what is important and not worry about unimportant pursuits.  Thank you for wanting us to acquire integrity.  Forgive us for being foolish.  Forgive us for being wrong.  Let us dwell on the good and pursue godliness and You.  Thank you for being a worthy pursuit.  Give us more of You and less of us.  In Jesus' name, Amen."

Day 4: "PUSH (Pray Until Something Happens)"

Psalm 5:2, 3  "Give heed to the voice of my cry, my King and my God, for to You I will pray.  My voice You shall hear in the morning, O LORD; in the morning I will direct it to You, and I will look up."

1 Thessalonians 5:17  "Pray without ceasing."

Matthew 7:7, 8, 11 "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.  For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.  If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!"

Philippians 4:6, 7  "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."

James 5:16  "Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed.  The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much."

Insight: If you are ever uncertain about something, pray about it.  If you're ever wondering how you should be approaching God, pray to Him.  Whatever you do, drench your life with prayer and you will be blessed.

Prayer: "Thank you for hearing our prayers, Lord.  Thank you for wanting us to simply speak with You and listen to You.  Praise You for always being there!  There is no other God like You.  Thank you for giving us awesome answers.  Praise You for the miracles that You do.  Help us to see what You are doing.  Forgive us for sometimes missing the awesome things that You do.  Let us keep a record of the wonderful things that You do, so we will never forget.  In Jesus' name, Amen."

Day 5: "Resist Temptation"

Psalm 46:1  "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble."

Mark 14:38  "Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation.  The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak."

1 Corinthians 10:31  "No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it."

James 1:12-15  "Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.  Let no one say when he is tempted, 'I am tempted by God'; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone.  But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed.  Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death."

Insight: We have been forewarned about temptation.  We will be tempted, but we are also expected to avoid, overcome or flee it.  Be prepared and don't fall into sin.

Prayer: "Thank you for warning us about sin, Lord.  Thank you for telling us what sins are in your Word.  Help us to know You and know your Word very well.  Praise You for being without sin!  Help us to be like You.  Cleanse us and give us more of You.  Give us your power, so we can overcome temptation.  Remind us about the battles that we've won!  Remind us how strong You are and how You give us your strength to win our spiritual battles.  Let us harness the power that You give and be overcomers and not succumbers.  In Jesus' name, Amen."

Day 6: "Be Cleansed"

Psalm 51:2  "Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin."

2 Corinthians 7:1  "Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God."

2 Timothy 2:20-22  "But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay, some for honor and some for dishonor.  Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work.  Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart."

James 4:8  "Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.  Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded."

1 John 1:7, 9  "But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.  If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

Insight: God is pure and holy and He wants us to be the same.  Seek His holiness and be cleansed.  Enjoy the purity of the Lord and refrain from sinning.  The light is always better than the darkness.

Prayer: "Forgive us and purify us, Lord.  Let us be ashamed of our sins, so we seek You and repent.  Thank you for your Holy Spirit that lives within us!  Let us be sensitive to your Spirit's promptings.  Thank you for never being silent.  Thank you for being our Father and friend.  Remove our unrighteousness.  Give us a taste of what the holiness of Heaven will be like.  Thank you for promising us eternal life in a place that is free from sin!  Remind us that You are near and that You are true to your promises.  In Jesus' name, Amen."

Day 7: "Take Up Your Cross"

Matthew 10:38  "And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me."

Matthew 16:24, 25  "Then Jesus said to His disciples, 'If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.  For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.'"

Mark 10:21  "... Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow Me."

Luke 14:27  "And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple."

Insight: Jesus took up a literal cross and was crucified on it for our sins.  We must take our spiritual and figurative cross and follow Him.  Christians must crucify their selfish and ungodly desires and become like Jesus Christ.

Prayer: "Thank you for wanting a serious commitment from us, Lord.  Thank you for wanting us to give You everything.  Forgive us for giving less or thinking less.  Praise You for being worthy and good!  Remind us that we serve and awesome God that has the keys to Heaven.  Bless us, increase our ministry, lay your hand on us and keep us from evil.  Thank you for being our Lord and Savior.  Help us to take up our cross, daily, and follow You.  In Jesus' name, Amen."

A Moment of Introspection

During the week, someone in the JCSM Forum brought up an interesting subject.  They asked me if I thought it was better for a person to a) pretend like they fully believe and are fully committed to Christ or b) be an open atheist.  What would you say?

I told the questioner that honesty is the best policy.  Wise people would prefer to make a "loud mistake" that they can see and correct than a "quiet error" that never gets noticed.  The same is true about loving God.  If a person doesn't love God, then they shouldn't act like they do.  God knows our hearts, so we aren't fooling anyone.

Pray for people who are merely giving "lip service" to God.  I'm sure we all know people that attend church once or twice a month, then never think about God for the rest of the time.  Perhaps you are one of those people.  If you are, remember that there is a lot to God and many people have spent their lives being fulfilled by God as they pursued Him and His righteousness.

Too many people taste a bit of God and His love, then walk their own way and leave His side.  They enjoy His presence and experience His peace, then think they can live without doing the things that they once did - the very things that brought the peace and success.

Stick close to God.  Don't leave His side.  I've always thought that the best "testimonies" come from the people who don't have a testimony because they have no "horror story" about their sin-filled, wretched life that they finally turned over to God.

Spend one hour in prayer!  Pick the right day and the right time and spend one hour with God.  Bring a pen or pencil and paper, so you can write what He tells you.

God bless you as you meet this week's challenge!

pragma: work - deed (by implication: affair, by extension: an object), business, matter

The Skeptic's Annotated Bible: Corrected and Explained

"The Skeptic's Annotated Bible" claims:

Genesis 2:18 - God creates a woman to keep Adam company saying; "It is not good that man should be alone." Paul offers a dissenting opinion in 1 Cor.7:1.

"The Skeptic's Annotated Bible: Corrected and Explained" responds:

* 1 Corinthians 7:1 reads, "It is good for a man to avoid touching a woman."  Paul makes it clear that it is not easy to choose a life of chastity, but if one can bear it and devote his or her life to God, then one could do it.  However, marriage was never forbidden or even frowned upon by Paul or any other Bible writer.

(This explanation came from "The Skeptic's Annotated Bible: Corrected and Explained", by Jason Gastrich.  This book is on CD and explains over 3,000 difficulties regarding the entire Bible at http://www.skepticsannotatedbible.org.)

There are no new quotes this week, but if you want to read some, please see our archives!  We have thousands and they are located here: http://quotes.jcsm.org.

These quotes can be used for sanctification and fun. Most of them are directly based on scripture and scriptural principles. Some of my quotes are humorous or rhetorical. Some are written from sermons and Bible studies. Others are lyrics from songs. If you’d like me to go into more detail on any of them, please email me.

Like most verses in the Bible, they can be debated. To use what I’ve written in the most beneficial way, try and trace them back to the scriptures and apply the true principles to your life in a meaningful way! Please don’t sell my quotes or publish them for profit. If English is not your first language, you may not understand some of the quotes. I'm sorry, but some of them are English metaphors and deal with multiple word meanings. God bless you all!

Please make a commitment to pray for this ministry. As every believer is tempted and tried, this ministry faces trials also. God has blessed me, JCSM and the people who have been reached! Unfortunately, the enemy knows this and spiritual warfare is the result. Please at least pray that the devotions continue to be written religiously, the web pages stay on the www and the readers are blessed, sanctified and protected from evil. Thank you very much in advance!

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John 3:16 "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever should believe in Him should have everlasting life."